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Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard marches alongside protesters towards downtown Portland on the Morrison Bridge, on June 4, 2020. Thousands of protesters in the liberal and predominantly white city of Portland, Ore. have taken to the streets peacefully every day for more than five weeks to decry police brutality, but recent violence by smaller groups is creating a deep schism in the protest movement and prompting allegations that white protesters are co-opting the moment. (Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian via AP)

Damian Lillard emerges from shutdown ready for playoff push

By ANNE M. PETERSON - Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith dribbles to the basket during the first quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Cleveland. J.R. Smith has joined LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers for their championship push. The Lakers announced their long-anticipated signing of Smith as a substitute player on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, the first day allowed under the rules of the NBA's summer restart. (AP Photo/Scott R. Galvin, File)

JR Smith overcomes ‘very depressed state,’ lands with Lakers

By GREG BEACHAM - Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2020, file photo, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert shoots during practice before a NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in Salt Lake City. Gobert is standing tall, even after having coronavirus and dealing with an enormous amount of scorn after being diagnosed. He was the first NBA player to test positive for the virus and that prompted many to blame him for the league's shutdown in response to the pandemic. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Coronavirus behind him, Utah’s Rudy Gobert looking forward

By TIM REYNOLDS - Associated Press

FILE - In this March 23, 2019, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, right, shoots as Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. Jusuf Nurkic is back and healthy. So are Zach Collins, Meyers Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and plenty of others. If the four-month NBA shutdown had a silver lining, it’s that a lot of ailing players got well. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola, File)

NBA shutdown allowed many in league unexpected time to heal

By TIM REYNOLDS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2019, file photo, Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton (22) shoots after driving past Minnesota Timberwolves' Jake Layman during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers already have just about guaranteed themselves the top two playoff seeds and face a delicate balancing act when the NBA returns to action. They must try to shake off the rust after a 4 ½-month hiatus while also staying as healthy as possible for the postseason.(AP Photo/Aaron Gash, File)

Bucks, Lakers look to shed rust, be healthy for playoffs

By STEVE MEGARGEE - Associated Press

FILE - In this June 27, 2020, file phohto, Chicago Red Stars' Julie Ertz, second from left, holds Casey Short, center, while other players for the team kneel during the national anthem before an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match against the Washington Spirit at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. The National Women's Soccer League revised its anthem policy after most players knelt during the anthem before season-opening games last weekend at the Challenge Cup. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Discourse over national anthem looms for NBA, other leagues

By SCHUYLER DIXON - Associated Press

FILE - In this March 10, 2020, file photo, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, passes the ball as Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba (5) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. Morant has taken advantage of the NBA's hiatus, adding 12 pounds of muscle to help absorb contact when the NBA's likely rookie of the year fearlessly attacks the basketball. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File)

Grizzlies’ Morant adds 12 pounds before heading to Florida

By TERESA M. WALKER - Associated Press

FILE - In this March 4, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson shoots free throws prior to an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas. Pelicans rookie Williamson says he feels like he is in good shape as he prepares to help lead New Orleans' eight-game push to make the NBA playoffs. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Zion Williamson confident in his health, Pelicans’ prospects

By BRETT MARTEL - Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 12, 2020, file photo, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic drives as Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Denver. A person with knowledge of the situation says Jokic has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantining in his native Serbia. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

As Florida virus numbers rise, NBA arrivals draw closer

By TIM REYNOLDS - Associated Press

In this March 6, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. Davis and the Lakers were leading the Western Conference when the coronavirus pandemic caused the suspension of the NBA season, but he is confident they’ll be able to resume their title chase. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) **FILE**

Anthony Davis: Lakers’ title chances improved after break

By GREG BEACHAM - Associated Press

In this March 6, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. Davis and the Lakers were leading the Western Conference when the coronavirus pandemic caused the suspension of the NBA season, but he is confident they’ll be able to resume their title chase. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) **FILE**

Asterisk on the NBA title? Coaches, players say not a chance

By Tim Reynolds - Associated Press

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 file photo, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons moves the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in New York. All-Star guard Ben Simmons says he’s feeling strong in his recovery from a lower back injury and expects to be at full strength once the NBA season resumes. Simmons, who averaged 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 54 games, was hurt in a Feb. 22 game at Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

76ers’ Simmons recovered from back injury for restart

By DAN GELSTON - Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2020, file photo, Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid celebrates after a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Philadelphia. 76ers coach Brett Brown says All-Stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are healthy for the NBA restart. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

76ers coach Brown says Embiid, Simmons healthy for restart

By DAN GELSTON - Associated Press

Rivers: Lou Williams expected to join Clippers for restart

By BETH HARRIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Sunday, March 8, 2020 file photo, Brooklyn Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie (26) drives to the basket around Chicago Bulls' Coby White during the second half of an NBA basketball game at the Barclays Center in New York. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving aren’t coming back, DeAndre Jordan and Wilson Chandler aren’t going to Florida, and Spencer Dinwiddie’s status is unclear after he and Jordan tested positive for the coronavirus. The Brooklyn Nets don’t have much of a team left, but general manager Sean Marks says they never considered not restarting the season later this month. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Despite virus cases, Nets say no thought to skipping restart

By BRIAN MAHONEY - Associated Press

In this Oct. 8, 2019, file photo, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a news conference before an NBA preseason basketball game between the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors in Saitama, near Tokyo. It’s been over three months since the commissioners of major sports cancelled or postponed events because of the coronavirus. Enough time for us to grade them on how they’ve handled the virus so far. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) **FILE**

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee senator, questions NBA’s relationship with China

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Washington. The Heat won 100-89. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) ** FILE **

Bradley Beal undecided if he’ll join Wizards in Orlando

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times

Mavs add Burke after Cauley-Stein opts out of resumed season

Associated Press

FILE - In this March 10, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Los Angeles. If James gets his way, NBA arenas and other sports venues around the country will be mega polling sites for the November general election. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

LeBron James’ group touts sports venues as mega-voting sites

By BILL BARROW - Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith dribbles to the basket during the first quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Cleveland. J.R. Smith has joined LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers for their championship push. The Lakers announced their long-anticipated signing of Smith as a substitute player on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, the first day allowed under the rules of the NBA's summer restart. (AP Photo/Scott R. Galvin, File)

Lakers add veteran J.R. Smith for Orlando championship push

By GREG BEACHAM - Associated Press